Projects

Photographs courtesy of Danielle Philomena Photography (c) 2015

The British Ukrainian Society lecture series in London

Since its inception in 2007, the BUS has held an annual lecture on British-Ukrainian relations called the Yalta Memorial Speech. Nicholas Soames MP delivered the first speech, and in subsequent years talks were given by Stephen Byers MP, Denis MacShane MP, David Lidington MP, and British Ambassador to Ukraine in 2012-2015, Mr Simon Smith.

Looking to expand on this well-attended and highly regarded event, the British Ukrainian Society is launching a two-year series of lectures in the spheres of politics and culture in partnership with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine. The lectures will be held approximately every two months in London at Portcullis House where the offices of British Members of Parliament and their staff are located.

The aim of the series is to give anyone interested in Ukrainian affairs an opportunity to hear from British politicians from across the political spectrum, as well as from other persons of interest who are in some way involved in noteworthy work relating to Ukraine. This may include visiting politicians from Ukraine, officials, diplomats, authors, artists, and experts from various professions from either country.

After each lecture, there will be time for the audience to ask questions, and lectures will be followed by networking receptions.

The British Ukrainian Society is actively seeking sponsors to support the lecture series. Sponsors will be recognised throughout the two years in a number of ways including during introductory remarks, in advertising and banners, on the BUS website and on its social networking pages. It will also be possible for sponsors to bring promotional materials to the events.

Sir Gerald Howarth MP, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine, delivered the inaugural lecture on 26 October 2015 in the Macmillan Room, Portcullis House. Lord Macdonald, who has written a paper on legal reform in Ukraine, delivered the second speech on 2 December.

The third lecture in the series was delivered by Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine and former Director of the Ukrainian Institute in London, on 8 February 2016. He covered the subject of tackling corruption and doing business in Ukraine.

Her Excellency Mrs Natalia Galibarenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, delivered the next lecture on 19 April 2016. Mr Oleh Berezyuk MP, Chairman of the Self-Reliance Faction in the Parliament of Ukraine, delivered the following lecture on 13 June 2016.

The next lecture in the series was given on 26 October 2016 by Dr Hryhoriy Nemyria MP who is the Deputy Chairman of the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) Party, and the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations in the Parliament of Ukraine.

On 23 January 2017, the Co-Chair of the Ukrainian All-Party Parliamentary Group on the United Kingdom, Svitlana Zalishchuk MP, and Sir Gerald Howarth MP will speak on the Parliamentary dimension of diplomatic relations. The event will commemorate the 25 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Ukraine, and 25 years since the establishment of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine in the UK Parliament.